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Chamber and committees

Recognising the Importance of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS)

  • Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 February 2024
  • Motion reference: S6M-12225

That the Parliament considers that Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) play an important role in identifying, assessing and treating osteoporosis in people over the age of 50 with a fracture; understands that the FLS model is a Scottish model of care that has been exported to 54 countries worldwide; further understands that there is a postcode lottery in Scotland for quality FLS because there is no national approach from NHS Scotland; welcomes the Scottish Government’s reported intention to conduct a performance audit of FLS in Scotland in the 2024-25 financial year; understands that the Royal Osteoporosis Society has published data that shows that 8,380 people in Scotland sustained a hip fracture in 2022, requiring 150,840 hospital bed days; further understands that almost 200,000 people in Scotland are living with undiagnosed spinal fractures, and that many are aged in their 50s and 60s and could be forced out of employment due to back pain, which, it believes, could be prevented by access to therapy; believes that a FLS pays back £3.26 for every £1 invested, and breaks even in just 18 months; recognises the national mandate introduced in Wales, which, it understands, has instructed all NHS boards to ensure universal, high-quality FLS by September 2024, and considers that Scotland would benefit from a government mandate for the provision of universal FLS, backed with a modest transformation fund and the appointment of a specialty advisor to provide strong, visible leadership within NHS Scotland.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Maggie Chapman, Foysol Choudhury, Fergus Ewing, Rhoda Grant, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane (Registered interest) , Daniel Johnson, Monica Lennon, Paul O'Kane, Alex Rowley, Mark Ruskell, Colin Smyth, Paul Sweeney, Tess White, Brian Whittle